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On Monday, Matthews met with two Democratic attorneys and the state’s incoming treasurer to discuss the Senate race at the Philadelphia-based law firm Wolf Block, according to Roll Call. That night, “Hardball” broadcast from Philadelphia, ostensibly for the National Governors Association meeting, a gathering that didn’t actually start until Tuesday. Also on Monday night, following “Hardball,” Matthews headed across the river to Camden, N.J., where he gave the keynote speech at a hospital fundraiser.

So was Matthews in Philadelphia to meet with operatives or to host a cable news show? When asked about the coincidence, an MSNBC official issued a terse “no comment.”

Few who know Matthews doubt his sincerity about fulfilling his boyhood dream of becoming a senator. He went so far as to mention it to Stephen Colbert in April. The only question is whether he wants to leave behind his show and the comfortable lifestyle he's grown accustomed to.

“There’s no cost to it, and helps him in [contract] negotiations,” said a network colleague who has spoken to Matthews about running. “I don’t think he wants to leave Chevy Chase, [Md.,] particularly. I think the chances of it are slim.”

“He’s trying to show, 'I have this alternative opportunity,'” said a Matthews friend who considers the Senate flirtation a way to get the network to ante up.

It’s likely that Matthews won’t be pleased with the network’s next offer, so it's understandable that some view the Senate talk as an attempt to ratchet up his own value to NBC.

Currently, Matthews is pulling in around $5 million a year, though it’s widely believed that he’ll be offered less this time around. Around the network, those who considered Matthews overpaid after he inked his current deal called the contract “Bob Wright’s folly” — a reference to the former NBC Universal chairman.

It’s highly unlikely that Matthews' deal will match the one offered to another MSNBC host, Keith Olbermann. Earlier this month, the network scrapped Olbermann’s contract and reportedly upped his yearly take from $4 to $7.5 million, through 2012.

Staging publicity-seeking stunts with contract negotiations on the horizon isn’t an uncommon practice. And strategic leaks and disinformation remain part of the game when it comes to hammering out multimillion-dollar deals in the public eye.

Just as rumors circulated that David Gregory, who’s expected to take the reins of “Meet the Press,” was being pursued by ABC, there's been talk of Matthews being a contender to host “Face the Nation” once Bob Schieffer retires.

But it's one thing to fuel a rumor of heading to a desk at a rival network. It's quite another to actively reach out to political players throughout Pennsylvania.

Matthews also has been urged to jump in the race by Gov. Ed Rendell’s longtime consultant, Neil Oxman, one of the state's leading Democratic operatives. Last month, Matthews met with former Democratic Rep. Joe Hoeffel, who remains a Pennsylvania political insider.

“He is interested, and that’s about all I can say,” said Hoeffel. “The downside of his celebrity is that people may think he’s out of touch with the state. That’s what he has to overcome. In Chris’ case, he needs to shut up and listen. He has to change the way he talks to people.”

Hoeffel said that Matthews needs to reconnect with his Philadelphia roots after spending much of the last three decades in Washington as a talk-show host after his stint as an aide to former House Speaker Tip O’Neill.

Readers' Comments (465)

He makes me sick. Anybody that would proudly announce that it was his job to make sure Barry's presidency would work, is almost criminal. Frog-march yourself to jail Chris for dishonesty in the media with the rest of the national liberal media.

Chris Matthews does not fit the bill of a potentially great U.S. Senator. Here's an Interesting blog that's worth reading on why Robert Byrd, Ted Kennedy, Arlen Specter, and the other lions of the senate matter in today's world: http://lifeintwoamericas.blogs...

Sen. Arlen Specter will wipe the floor with Matthews.....Then that hopefully will be the total end of Matthews and the thrill running up his thigh,.....This will be a bigger win for Spector than when Kerry got beat..........

He makes me sick. Anybody that would proudly announce that it was his job to make sure Barry's presidency would work, is almost criminal. Frog-march yourself to jail Chris for dishonesty in the media with the rest of the national liberal media.

Morning iem...albeit true Matthews is a Joke with a big "J". Franken is by fare the worst of the lot.

Matthews has always wanted to be a big man in politics ever since his little job with Jimmy Carter. He's been waiting around until another carbon copy of his hero Jimmaaa came along and finally up jumps OBAMA the Jimmy clone...unfortunately for Chris and fortunately for PA...Specter ain't going no where.all

I used to like the Chris Mathews TV show (not really news); until the Political Primary season, and through to the General Election. His political prejudices showed his real un-attractive insides. He wouldn't get my vote because he doesn't know how to be bipartisan.....

A little good Obama is shelving his windfall tax maybe he will not ban off shore drilling..

Obama shelves oil company tax after price fall-aide

Adds reaction) By Jeff Mason and Tom Doggett CHICAGO/WASHINGTON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Barack Obama is not planning to implement a windfall profit tax on oil companies because prices have dropped below $80 a barrel, an aide said on Tuesday. "President-elect Obama announced the policy during the campaign because oil prices were above $80 per barrel," an aide on Obama's transition team said. "They are currently below that now and expected to stay below that." Oil prices have fallen from a record $147 a barrel in July to under $50 this week. Obama, who signaled early in his campaign for the White House that he would take an active approach to oil markets as president, had planned to use the revenue from a windfall profits tax to fund a tax rebate for low- and middle-income families struggling with high energy prices. But the aide said Obama's presidential campaign had already taken the price drop into account six weeks ago. When Obama laid out his economic plan for the middle class in mid-October, revenue from a windfall profit tax was not included because of the price change, he said. Oil companies steadfastly opposed a tax, saying it would stifle exploration and innovation. The switch drew applause from industry. "The judgment to withdraw the concept of a windfall profits tax is an important recognition that developing America's oil and natural gas would be seriously damaged by such a tax policy," said Lee Fuller, vice president of government relations for the Independent Petroleum Association of America, which represents independent oil and gas producers. "A windfall profits tax is bad policy at any price," said Thomas Pyle, president of the Institute for Energy Research, calling the move "a heartening development -- both for consumers and an economy struggling to claw its way out of recession." Many energy experts warned that imposing a windfall profits tax would discourage energy companies from drilling for oil in the United States, which would exacerbate U.S. reliance on foreign suppliers. But environmentalists support a tax and want oil companies to invest more in renewable fuels. Obama has made revamping U.S. energy policy a key priority of his upcoming presidency, promising to increase production of renewable energy sources and start a carbon trading system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. He said recently that the fall in gasoline prices was not an excuse to put off tackling U.S. dependence on foreign oil. Oil Tycoon T. Boone Pickens, who met with Obama during the campaign to discuss energy policy, said he was against a windfall profits tax but did not believe the decision not to implement one would affect domestic oil production. "The windfall profits tax won't have anything to do with killing any oil projects," Pickens told reporters in Washington. (Reporting by Jeff Mason and Tom Doggett; Editing by Gary Hill) Printable version larger | smaller Business

Listen to all the whiny conservatives! Wah, wah wah. And you're supposed to be the tough ones, huh? Aside from that, who would want your campaign advice anyway? Who ever asks the LOSER how they did it or what they should do? Nobody. The GOP is dead, killed by the weight of its own corruption and hypocrisy. The Dems controlled Congress for 40 years. YOu guys had it for a fraction of that and couldn't hold on. Maybe its because people who tout how government can't do anything right are naturally BAD at running government! Matthews shouldn't run. Stay Chris, stay.

He should step down if running for office, anyone should. While I am a Liberal (living in PA) I am not sure if I would vote for him, I have a lot of respect for Senator Specter, I wish there were more Republicans like him. I was thrilled though when that monstrosity Rick Santorum was elected out of office though, that guy was scum.

As a proud Pennsylvanian I can only hope that the people of our state are not so far gone as to elect a carpetbagging talking head like Chris Matthews. The fact that he's "looking for a house in the state" doesn't make him a Pennsylvanian and the fact that he was born in Philadelphia makes him about as much a part of this state as Joe Biden was , which is to sat not at all. This guy is just another "celebrity" who fancies himself as entitled to just roll into town and have people vote for him because his name is well known. The idea that he has to move back to the state just to run should tell you all you need to know. And what exactly are his qualifications to serve in the senate? Rambling about homo-erotic tingling in your legs over Obama doesn't exactly qualify you to serve in the senate. The only thing we can evaluate this guy on is how he did his job as a "journalist". Based on his lack of integrity in that job, I wouldn't hold out much hope that he would be anything but a bloviating, publicity seeking hack as a senator. Our state already has enough embarrasing politicians with the likes of Fast Eddie Rendell and the senile John Murtha. We can do without a carpetbagger like matthews. Unfortunatley, he would be up against the ancient,and unhealthy, Arlen Specter. If it's those two in the race, it's another lose lose situation for the voters.